Hurricane Damage Claims in Florida – Everything You Need To Know

When you live in Florida, hurricanes become a part of life. You not only learn to live with them but also deal with their consequences. It is why hurricane insurance has become so popular there. Homeowners and commercial building owners both know that hurricanes are imminent and so they purchase the best possible protection and take all precautions to keep the damage minimal.

Hurricanes are notorious for being unpredictable. Sometimes they dwindle down to nothing and fade, and at other times their severity may escalate rapidly. No matter what you do, the damage is bound to happen. This is when your hurricane insurance plan comes to the rescue. Today we shall talk extensively about hurricane damage claims and all things related. Hopefully, it will make for an enlightening read.

1. Damage To windows From Flying Debris – The most common hurricane damage happens from flying debris, and the poor victims are the windows. The glass shatters, and the frame may also come loose or get damaged. In either case, it is advisable to click pictures of your doors and windows before and after the hurricane hit. It is only to prove that the hurricane caused the damage and not an issue arising due to lack of maintenance.

2. Roof Damage – Collapsed or caved-in roofs and parts of roof and siding blown away are regular occurrences during hurricanes. Such loss can happen due to high-intensity winds or flying debris, or both. Again, the best practice is to keep your home inspection papers handy to show there was no negligence on your part. The other important thing is to take pictures of the roof after the hurricane damage to prove the loss. 

3. Damage Caused By Fire – Practically, when it’s raining, there should be no fire, but that’s not how things work. The reality is far different. During hurricanes, power lines can fall, leading to electrical fires, or there might be a power surge or water seepage causing a short circuit that ignites into a flare. Your home and possessions will suffer major damage in any such occurrence. Some may even be destroyed beyond repair. It is helpful to have an electronic record of all the bills pertaining to your most expensive possessions because paper bills may get burnt in the fire. These will come in handy when filing for a claim, along with the pictures of the loss suffered.

4. Water Damage – Contrary to popular belief, water damage during hurricanes does not always happen because of floods. It can happen because of water entering the home from damaged windows or leaking roofs, etc. Water damage of any kind is bad because water means dampness, and dampness means mold and rotting. As a property owner, try to contain the damage as much as possible. Take pictures of the damage, along with any mitigating steps you have taken to prove that there was no negligence on your part.

No two homeowners insurance policies are the same. Therefore the definition of what is covered will vary depending on the type of coverage you chose to buy.

1. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, the chances are that you will need to buy additional protection against the said calamity as your typical homeowner’s insurance will not cover it. So any resultant damage will also not be covered if it is because of a hurricane.
2. If you live in an area where hurricanes are not a common occurrence, you need to get clarity on whether your homeowner’s insurance policy covers any such event or not.
3. Flood damage is not covered in the homeowner’s insurance policy. You will need to buy additional protection against it.

There are two things that hurricane insurance does not cover. These are:

1. Damage To Vehicle – Hurricane insurance will not cover the damage to your vehicle parked in the garage or a carport. Typically, if you have been vigilant, you would have bought a vehicle insurance policy that covers damage from hurricanes. If yes, you are in luck because, in that case, the vehicle’s insurance policy will cover the damage.

2. Damage Due To Negligence – When people live in hurricane-prone areas, they should install safety measures and follow some protocols. If you fail to do so and your negligence causes the damage, it will not be covered by your insurance policy.

The aftermath of a hurricane is brutal to deal with both mentally and physically. Mentally, you may be distraught with the destruction it caused and having to face the reality of the loss you have suffered. Physically, you have to gear up to run pillar to post, filing claims, getting quotes, starting the repair and rebuilding work. All in all, the days ahead are going to be hard. Nevertheless, you will have to do the following tasks:

1. Catalog all the damage.
2. Take pictures and make videos of the damage.
3. Speak to the insurance company to determine the formalities you need to complete to file the claim successfully.
4. Make an appointment with contractors to assess the damage and get quotes.

Whenever there is a catastrophe, claims are also high. Even a hurricane of moderate severity can wreak havoc. In all this, filling the forms correctly, getting all the documents in order, and their timely submission becomes an ordeal. Even then, the chances are that your claim will get buried under a pile. So here’s a piece of sincere advice to expedite matters and get the maximum and timely settlement – Hire a public adjuster in Florida.

In Florida, a reputed and trustworthy public adjuster like Continental Public Adjusters will do all your leg work for successfully filing the claim. They will take matters into their own hands to ensure that all the paperwork is filed correctly and well within time. Additionally, they will also follow up continuously with the insurance company to keep track of your claim. All in all, your claim settlement process will become hassle-free. To book an appointment for their services, call (800) 989-4769.